Window lifter, especially for curved side windows of motor vehicles

ABSTRACT

A window lifter, particularly for curved side windows of motor vehicles, in which the window panes are displaceable in lateral guide rails that extend essentially only over the height of the window opening and in which an upright column is arranged on the inside of the window compartment, that is matched to the curvature of the window pane; a guide part is securely connected with the bottom edge of the window pane to permit adjustment of the window in its height by means of the guide column; the guide column itself is constructed as a sectional member open on one side in which a sliding body is guided that is securely connected to the guide part of the pane.

United States Patent [191 Breitschwerdt et a1.

[ Aug. 28, 1973 [73] Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft,

Stuttgart-Unterturkheim, Germany [22] Filed: Sept. 16, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 72,760

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 19, 1969 Germany P 19 47386.0

[52] US. Cl 49/227, 49/350, 49/375 [51] v Int. Cl E05f 11/52 [58] Fieldof Search 49/41, 350, 351,

3,288,677 l/1966 Martens 49/41 3,247,616 4/1966 Peras 49/227 X 2,015,4489/1935 Esser 49/408 X 2,145,659 1/1939 Lane 49/350 X 2,207,891 7/1940Mackey 49/227 3,062,528 11/1962 Martens 49/227 3,413,760 12/1968 Goryset a1. 49/227 X 3,398,488 8/1968 Garvey 49/227 X FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 637,547 5/1950 Great Britain 49/373 1,137,140 l/l957 FrancePrimary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor AttorneyCraig, Antonelli, Stewart &Hill 5 7] ABSTRACT A window lifter, particularly for curved side windowsof motor vehicles, in which the window panes are displaceable in lateralguide rails that extend essentially only over the height of the windowopening and in which an upright column is arranged on the inside of thewindow compartment, that is matched to the curvature of the window pane;a guide part is securely connected with the bottom edge of the windowpane to permit adjustment of the window in its height by means of theguide column; the guide column itself is constructed as a sectionalmember open on one side in which a sliding body is guided that issecurely connected to the guide part of the pane.

19 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 28, 1973 \NVENTORS;

I70 ERNER BREJ SCHW ERDT GLkNTER :{MEJNER ERW IN KO l-LE MQQM m'ro RNEYSWINDOW LIFTER, ESPECIALLY FOR CURVED SIDE WINDOWS OF MOTOR VEHICLES Thepresent invention relates to a window lifter, especially for curved sidewindows of motor vehicles in which the window panes are displaceable inlateral guide rails which extend essentially only over the height of thewindow opening, and in which an upright column adapted essentially tothe curvature of the window pane is arranged on the inside of the windowshaft or compartment, by means of which a guide part rigidly connectedwith the bottom edge of the window pane is guided so as to bedisplaceable in its height position, as described in the copendingapplication Ser. No. 840,295, assigned to the assignee of the instantapplication, the contents of which are incorporated herein by referenceto the extent necessary.

A window guidance and adjusting installation for curved or arcuatelyshaped windows is provided by the construction according to theaforementioned copending application, which assures an easy manipulationand handling under all driving conditions since the friction forces forthe actuation of the window adjustment are only slight. It has now beendiscovered that a further advantageous construction of the subjectmatter of the aforementioned copending application can be attained ifthe guide column is constructed as a profile or sectional member open onone side only, in which is guided a corresponding slide body rigidlyconnected with the guide part of the window pane. This type ofconstruction, in addition to a more light-weight construction, by meansof which weight is economized, entails above all a more simple and lesscostly construction of the slide body which can also be mounted andassembled considerably more easily than the guide part of theaforementioned copending application.

Appropriately a U-shaped profile or sectional member constructed withinwardly directed leg portions may be provided as profile part, in whicha T-shaped slide body is guided whose web portion corresponding to thecross leg of the T is secured at the guide part of the window pane byway of a sheet-metal connecting plate. A completely satisfactory andunobjectionable guidance without large expenditures can be realizedthereby which is not subjected to the danger of a canting or edging. Theslide body may be constructed thereby in a simple manner from anangularly bent sheet metal strip and may be surrounded by a velourmaterial at the web portion corresponding to the cross leg of the T." Inthis manner, a good seating of the sliding body in the guide rail isachieved without having to overcome excessively large frictional forcesduring the window adjustment. Of course, also a corresponding part madefrom any conventional synthetic resinous material may be provided assliding body.

The sheet-metal connecting member between the sliding body and the guidepart of the pane may be constructed in a particularly advantageousmanner as a protective sheet metal member or plate extendinguninterruptedly over the entire width of the pane and inclined towardthe door outer body panel, which serves the purpose of conducting awayfrom the interior of the door the water dropping down along the windowpane. As a result of the construction according to the presentinvention, all parts and aggregates disposed within the door, i.e., alsothe height adjusting aggregates for the window pane, are protected incase of rain against the runningdown water, which can again escape inthe usual manner into the atmosphere at the bottom of the door.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide awindow lifter, particularly for curved side windows of motor vehicles,which avoids by simple means the aforementioned shortcomings anddrawbacks encountered in the prior art,

Another object of the present invention resides in a window lifter,particularly for curved side windows of motor vehicles whichdistinguishes itself by light weight and small costs.

A further object of the present invention resides in a window lifter ofthe type described above, which permits more easy manufacture andassembly of the parts thereof while assuring at the same time acompletely satisfactory guidance without excessive expenditures.

A still further object of the present invention resides in a windowlifter for curved side windows of motor vehicles which minimizes thedanger of canting and dispenses with the need to overcome largefrictional forces during adjustments of the window.

Another object of the present invention resides in a window lifter ofthe type described above, which effectively protects all parts on theinside of the vehicle door against rain water running down along thewindow.

These and further objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more obvious from the following description whentaken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, forpurposes of illustration only, one embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic perspective view of the inside of a sidedoor constructed in accordance with the present invention, whereby apart of the inner door cover is broken away;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view, on an enlarged scale, illustratingthe sliding body in the guide rail and its manner of fastening at theguide part of the window pane, with certain parts shown in cross sectionfor the sake of clarity, and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the direction ofmovement through the profile guide rail with the sliding body guidedtherein in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are used todesignate like parts throughout the various views, a guide column 3 issecured by way of a flange M in the window shaft or compartment of amotor vehicle side door in a manner similar to the aforementionedcopending application. A sliding body 5 which is guided in the column 3,is rigidly connected with a guide part generally designated by referencenumeral 4 for the curved side window pane l. The side window pane l isguided at the window frame in lateral guide rails 2. The lateral guiderails 2 extend only over the height of the window opening and areadapted to the curvature of the side window pane l. The sliding body 5together with the guide part 4 and the side window pane 1 arrangedthereat may be adjusted in the height thereof by way of a lever 11, agear crank drive 10 of conventional construction and a hand crank 9.

As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 2 and 3, the guide column 3 isconstructed as profile or section member open on one side whose legportions 3a and 3b (FIG. 3) point inwardly so that a guide rail resultson the inside thereof, in which the T-shaped slide body 5 is guided withits part a corresponding to the cross leg of the T. The part 5a of thesliding body 5 is surrounded in the illustrated embodiment according toFIG. 3 with a velour material 16 that enables an easy sliding within theU-shaped profile.

The guide part 4 of the side window 1 is rigidly connected with theslide body 5 as can be seen in particular from FIG. 2, by way of theconnecting sheet-metal member or plate 17 which is connected with theslide body 5 either by a threaded connection or by welding at the area170 thereof inclined toward the door outside. Additionally, the part 40provided with the guide slot 12 is also rigidly connected with thesheet-metal connecting member 17; the lever 11 permits to lift thewindow pane l by way of the part 4a. The inclined sheet metal part 17ais now constructed according to the present invention in such a mannerthat it extends over the entire width of the side window pane 1. Sinceit is inclined toward the outer surface of the door, it acts in thistype of construction, in addition to acting as securing member, also asa protective plate for the water 18 dropping down from the window pane 1which water runs along the part 17a and thus does not come into contactwith the parts disposed on the inside of the door, for example, with thelever 11 and with the guide slot 12. Also the door lock and other partscan thus be protected from the direct contact with the running-off waterwhich is discharged in a conventional manner at the bottom of the door.

While we have shown and described only one embodiment in accordance withthe present invention, it is understood that the same is not limitedthereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications asknown to those skilled in the art and we therefore do not wish to belimited to the details shown and described herein but intend to coverall such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope ofthe appended claims.

What we claim is:

l. A window lifter for a door in which a window pane is displaceable inlateral guide rail means, extending approximately only over the heightof a window opening, and in which an upright guide column means isarranged on the inside of a window shaft, at least one guide partsecurely connected with the bottom edge of the window pane being guidedby said guide column means so as to be displaceable in its heightposition, characterized in that the guide column means is constructed asprofile member open on one side, in that a corresponding sliding bodyrigidly connected with the guide part of the window pane is guided insaid profile member, and in that the connecting means between thesliding body and the guide part is constructed as a protective plateextending uninterruptedly substantially over the entire width of thewindow pane and inclined outwardly in the downward direction toward theouter cover of the door for conducting away any water, dripping downfrom the pane, from the interior ofthe door.

2. A window lifter according to claim 1, characterized in that thewindow pane is curved and the guide column means is matched essentiallyto the curvature of the window pane.

3. A window lifter according to claim 1, characterized in that theprofile member is constructed as approximately U-shaped profile withinwardly directed leg portions, in which is guided an approximately T-shaped sliding body whose web portion corresponding to the cross leg ofthe T is secured at the guide part of the window pane by way of aconnecting means.

4. A window lifter according to claim 3, characterized in that thesliding body is formed from an angularly shaped sheet metal strip.

5. A window lifter according to claim 4, characterized in that the webportion of the sliding body corresponding to the cross leg of the T issurrounded by a low friction fabric material.

6. A window lifter according to claim 5, characterized in that saidfabric is velour material.

7. A window lifter according to claim 1, characterized in that theconnecting means is a sheet-metal connecting plate.

8. A window lifter according to claim 7, characterized in that thewindow pane is a curved side window for a motor vehicle.

9. A window lifter according to claim 7, characterized in that thewindow pane is curved and the guide column means is matched essentiallyto the curvature of the window pane.

10. A window lifter arrangement for a window pane comprising: outer bodypanel means, inner body panel means spaced from said outer panel meansto form a window shaft therebetween, a window opening formed in saidinner and outer panel means above said window shaft, an upright guidecolumn means arranged in said window shaft, said guide column meansbeing constructed as a profile member open on one side, at least oneguide part securely connected with the bottom edge of the window pane, asliding body extending into the open side of said guide column means forsliding movement within said guide column means, connecting means forrigidly connecting said sliding body with said guide part, and movingmeans for imparting movement to said guide part, wherein said connectingmeans is constructed as a water shed means for conducting water from theguide part outwardly and downwardly toward said outer panel means, andwherein said connecting means is constructed as a protective plateextending uninterruptedly substantially over the entire width of thewindow pane, whereby portions of the moving means are protected fromrainwater and the like impinging on the window pane and dripping ontothe guide part for all moved positions of the window pane.

11. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said connecting meansis a sheet metal connecting plate, the upper end of said plate beingsealingly fixed at the guide part, the lower end of said plate beingfixed to said sliding body, said lower end being disposed outwardly withrespect to said upper end such that water flowing downwardly over saidplate is conducted outwardly.

12. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said guide part isconstructed with a U-shaped upwardly facing channel for holding thewindow pane and with a downwardly extending flange, said connectingmeans being attached to said flange.

13. An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said connecting meansis a sheet metal connecting plate, the upper end of said plate beingsealingly fixed at the guide part, the lower end of said plate beingfixed to said sliding body, said lower end being disposed outwardly withrespect to said upper end such that water flowing downwardly over saidplate is conducted outwardly.

14. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said connecting meansis disposed between the outer panel means and the operative connectionof said guide part to said moving means.

15. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said connecting meansis a sheet metal connecting plate, the upper end of said plate beingsealingly fixed at the guide part, the lower end of said plate beingfixed to said sliding body, said lower end being disposed outwardly withrespect to said upper end such that water flowing downwardly over saidplate is conducted outwardly.

16. An arrangement according to claim 10, furthe comprising lateralguide rail means at each side of the window opening for aiding in theguiding of the window pane.

17. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the window pane iscurved and the guide column means is matched essentially to thecurvature of the window pane.

18. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the profile member isconstructed as approximately U- shaped profile with inwardly directedleg portions, in which is guided an approximately T-shaped sliding bodywhose web portion corresponding to the cross leg of the T is secured atthe guide part of the window pane by way of the connecting means.

19. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the window pane is acurved side window for a motor vehicle.

1. A window lifter for a door in which a window pane is displaceable inlateral guide rail means, extending approximately only over the heightof a window opening, and in which an upright guide column means isarranged on the inside of a window shaft, at least one guide partsecurely connected with the bottom edge of the window pane being guidedby said guide column means so as to be displaceable in its heightposition, characterized in that the guide column means is constructed asprofile member open on one side, in that a corresponding sliding bodyrigidly connected with the guide part of the window pane is guided insaid profile member, and in that the connecting means between thesliding body and the guide part is constructed as a protective plateextending uninterruptedly substantially over the entire width of thewindow pane and inclined outwardly in the downward direction toward theouter cover of the door for conducting away any water, dripping downfrom the pane, from the interior of the door.
 2. A window lifteraccording to claim 1, characterized in that the window pane is curvedand the guide column means is matched essentially to the curvature ofthe window pane.
 3. A window lifter according to claim 1, characterizedin that the profile member is constructed as approximately U-shapedprofile with inwardly directed leg portions, in which is guided anapproximately T-shaped sliding body whose web portion corresponding tothe cross leg of the T is secured at the guide part of the window paneby way of a connecting means.
 4. A window lifter according to claim 3,characterized in that the sliding body is formed from an angularlyshaped sheet metal strip.
 5. A window lifter according to claim 4,characterized in that the web portion of the sliding body correspondingto the cross leg of the T is surrounded by a low friction fabricmaterial.
 6. A window lifter according to claim 5, characterized in thatsaid fabric is velour material.
 7. A window lifter according to claim 1,characterized in that the connecting means is a sheet-metal connectingplate.
 8. A window lifter according to claim 7, characterized in thatthe window pane is a curved side window for a motor vehicle.
 9. A windowlifter according to claim 7, characterized in that the window pane iscurved and the guide column means is matched essentially to thecurvature of the window pane.
 10. A window lifter arrangement for awindow pane comprising: outer body panel means, inner body panel meansspaced from said outer panel means to form a window shaft therebetween,a window opening formed in said inner and outer panel means above saidwindow shaft, an upright guide column means arranged in said windowshaft, said guide column means being constructed as a profile memberopen on one side, at least one guide part securely connected with thebottom edge of the window pane, a sliding body extending into the openside of said guide column means for sliding movement within said guidecolumn means, connecting means for rigidly connecting said sliding bodywith said guide part, and moving means for imparting movement to saidguide part, wherein said connecting means is constructed as a water shedmeans for conducting water from the guide part outwardly and downwardlytoward said outer panel means, and wherein said connecting means isconstructed as a protective plate extending uninterruptedlysubstantially over the entire width of the window pane, whereby portionsof the moving means are protected from rainwater and the like impingingon the window pane and dripping onto the guide part for all movedpositions of the window pane.
 11. An arrangement according to claim 10,wherein said connecting means is a sheet metal connecting plate, theupper end of said plate being sealingly fixed at the guide part, thelower end of said plate being fixed to said sliding body, said lower endbeing disposed outwardly with respect to said upper end such that waterflowing downwardly over said plate is conducted outwardly.
 12. Anarrangement according to claim 10, wherein said guide part isconstructed with a U-shaped upwardly facing channel for holding thewindow pane and with a downwardly extending flange, said connectingmeans being attached to said flange.
 13. An arrangement according toclaim 12, wherein said connecting means is a sheet metal connectingplate, the upper end of said plate being sealingly fixed at the guidepart, the lower end of said plate being fixed to said sliding body, saidlower end being disposed outwardly with respect to said upper end suchthat water flowing downwardly over said plate is conducted outwardly.14. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said connecting meansis disposed between the outer panel means and the operative connectionof said guide part to said moving means.
 15. An arrangement according toclaim 14, wherein said connecting means is a sheet metal connectingplate, the upper end of said plate being sealingly fixed at the guidepart, the lower end of said plate being fixed to said sliding body, saidlower end being disposed outwardly with respect to said upper end suchthat water flowing downwardly over said plate is conducted outwardly.16. An arrangement according to claim 10, further comprising lateralguide rail meAns at each side of the window opening for aiding in theguiding of the window pane.
 17. An arrangement according to claim 10,wherein the window pane is curved and the guide column means is matchedessentially to the curvature of the window pane.
 18. An arrangementaccording to claim 10, wherein the profile member is constructed asapproximately U-shaped profile with inwardly directed leg portions, inwhich is guided an approximately T-shaped sliding body whose web portioncorresponding to the cross leg of the T is secured at the guide part ofthe window pane by way of the connecting means.
 19. An arrangementaccording to claim 10, wherein the window pane is a curved side windowfor a motor vehicle.